Misalignment and Epilepsy

CESSATION OF A SEIZURE DISORDER: Correction of the Atlas Subluxation Complex

Robert J. Goodman, D.C., John S. Mosby Jr., D.C., M.D.

ABSTRACT

Observations of one patient presenting with a seizure disorder are reported. Relief of symptoms is

noted subsequent to correction of the misalignment of the occipito-atlanto-axial complex. The authors

suggest a relationship between the misaligned skull and subjacent vertebrae and some seizure disorders.

Key Words: epilepsy; atlanto-occipital joint

INTRODUCTION

The term epilepsy refers to any disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Seizures are transient

disturbances of cerebral function due to abnormal paroxysmal neuronal discharges in the brain.

Approximately 0.5% of the U.S. population is affected. 1, 2

Epilepsy is grouped into two different etiological categories, idiopathic or constitutional and

symptomatic epilepsy. In idiopathic or constitutional epilepsy, seizures usually begin between 5 and 20

years of age. NO specific cause can be identified, and there are no other neurological abnormalities.1 The

causes of symptomatic epilepsy include abnormalities and perinatal injuries, disorders of metabolism,

trauma, space-occupying lesions, vascular problems, degenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. 1, 3-6

Clinically, seizures are categorized by description. The two major descriptive classifications are

partial seizures and generalized seizures. Partial seizures are determined by clinical observation and by

electroencephalograph manifestations. They affect only a restricted part of one cerebral hemisphere. In

simple partial seizures the patient remains conscious, but in complex partial seizures consciousness is lost.

Partial seizures may evolve into generalized seizures.1

Generalized seizures are categorized as petit mal or absence seizures, atypical seizures, myclonic

seizures, akinetic seizures, grand mal or tonic-clonic seizures, atonic or ionic seizures, and seizures that will

not fit into any other category.

Absence or petit mal seizures cause some reduction in postural tone, with some clonic or tonic

components. Consciousness is impaired. These attacks occur quickly. When the attack occurs as a person

is speaking, the person may miss a few words in mid-sentence then resume with the remainder of the

sentence when the attack subsides. If a child has a petit mal seizure while playing, for instance, he or she

may freeze, that is, stand perfectly still while reaching for a toy. These seizures will often cease at

approximately 20 years of age. Diagnosis is assisted by electroencephalographic studies which show

bilateral synchronous and symmetric 3Hz spike-and-wave activity.1

Atypical seizures are almost identical to the petit mal seizure except that changes in tone are more

dramatic and onset and termination of the attack is slower.1

Myclonic seizures cause single or multiple myclonic jerks and myofacial spikes are seen on an

EEG.1 Akinetic seizures present as a sudden loss of consciousness and EEG findings show synchronous

firing from deep lesions often in the frontal regions of the brain.7

The grand-mal or tonic-clonic seizure occurs with a sudden loss of consciousness, the patient

becomes rigid then falls to the ground and respiration is arrested for less than 60 seconds. This is described

as the tonic phase. The next phase is the clonic phase during which the body jerks violently for 2 to 3

minutes. Flaccid coma occurs next. During this type of seizure the tongue may be bitten and urinary or

fecal continence may be lost. The patient will then either recover consciousness, drift into sleep, or never

recover consciousness which is called status epilepticus.1

Atonic seizures are epileptic drop attacks where the patient, usually a child, loses all motor tone

and falls to the ground.8 The stigma of the helmet is often conferred of necessity on the patient with drop

attacks in order to protect him from further injury during these ictal events. These spells are often

intractable to treatment. Finally, the onset of ictal falling almost always occurs in patients who already

have one of more other types of seizures and implies a poor prognosis for the ultimate seizure control and

for normal mental development.9-11

Lennox-Gestaut Syndrome (L-G) is another classification of seizure disorder which has a peak age

of onset of four years.12 It is characterized by myoclonic and atypical absence seizures, regression of

intellectual functions and generalized spike wave discharges on the EEG at a rate below what is seen in

petit mal seizures. Several hundred attacks may occur in a day and multiple injuries from falls are

common. Diffuse cerebral atrophy is seen in 60% of cases.8

MEDICAL TREATMENT

The descriptive classifications above are important for determining the most appropriate medical

treatment. When patients have recurrent seizures, medication is prescribed until there have been no

seizures for at least four years. Epileptic patients are advised to avoid situations that could be dangerous or

life-threatening during seizures.1

All doctors must be aware of a condition called status epilepticus which is the rapid succession of

seizures so that the next seizure begins before the previous one has ended. Status epilepticus is a medical

emergency since continuous epileptic activity can damage the brain permanently. Of course death may

occur during a seizure if the patient aspirates contents of the stomach which either occlude airways or

prevent adequate oxygenation.8

When patients have been seizure free for at least four years withdrawal of medication may be

considered. There is unfortunately no way of predicting which patients can be managed without treatment.

Recurrence of attacks is most likely in patients who initially fail to respond to therapy, those with

convulsive jerking movements, those with multiple types, and those with continuing EEG abnormalities.1

HISTORY

Patient E is a five year old white female, who was small at birth and born breech. During her first

three years of life she had many viral infections and repeated attacks of otitis media. Some concern was

expressed by her mother over growth and language retardation. At age 13 months, however, psychomotor

skills had been assessed as normal.

At the age of 4 years 8 months, in October 1988, Patient E was playing as a day care center, when

she struck her head on the underside of a table. Within two hours her first grand mal seizure occurred.

Patient E’s second seizure occurred within three weeks.

Patient E was evaluated at the Mayo Clinic and was experiencing 10 to 30 seizures per day with

no seizure-free days. (Figure 1 is a graph prepared from Patients E’s daily seizure journal kept by her

parents. The recorded the number, time, type and severity of each seizure.) Seizure types were described as

being tonic, clonic, akinetic, and grand mal. The diagnosis of Lennox-Gestaut Syndrome was made. The

patient was described as being able to speak only a few intelligible phrases. She was tremulous, and had

difficulty standing.

Various laboratory tests were performed including a complete blood count, serum ammonia and an

SMA 20 and all were within normal ranges. A CT scan and MRI were negative for fractures and

pathologies. The EEG, however, showed a slow spike-wave abnormality as well as other features which

may occur in Lennox-Gestaut syndrome. The prognosis was determined to be grave and the comment was

made that the L-G syndrome is fraught with nearly uniform disappointment since medical therapy has very

few beneficial results.

Patient E was given Depakote, Zarontine, and ACTH therapy. Each was given singly and then

discontinued due to Patient E’s unusual or aggressive behavior. Finally, Tegretol/carbamazepine seemed to

have some positive effects on the grand mal type seizures. It was after this, however, that Patient E began

to have drop attacks.

On July 18, 1989 Patient E entered into a team evaluation and treatment plan at the Palmer

Chiropractic Clinic. At that time, Patient E was having 30 to 70 seizures per day. {Figure 1] Patient E

presented with a helmet, faceplate, and harness for protection against falls.

The patient’s communication skills were retarded. Physician exam revealed a waxy buildup in the

ears so that the TM could not be visualized. Neurological exam revealed the presence of hyper reflexive

and asymmetric reflexes. Orthopedic evaluation was unremarkable.

Further chiropractic evaluation revealed paravertebral muscular spasm in the cervical area;

cervical ROM severely restricted especially in the right lateral bending; right leg deficiency of 􀀁 to 1 inch;

suspected cervical misalignment resulting in an atlas subluxation complex.

A specific upper cervical x-ray series was taken.13,14 During patient placement for the nasium

view, certain postural deviations were noted. When asked to sit up straight, Patient E’s head, cervical, and

upper thoracic spine would not center directly over the pelvis and demonstrated excursion into the frontal

plane. No pathologies were noted on the x-rays.

Chiropractic x-ray analysis revealed a misalignment of the occipito-atlanto-axial region. Figure 2

is a representation of a radiograph showing Patient E’s misalignment in the frontal plane view. Rotation of

atlas in the transverse plane was also measured, but was minimal.

To correct the subluxation, Patient E was placed on the adjustment table side posture with the C1

transverse process as the contact point. An adjusting force was introduced to the spine using specific upper

cervical adjusting procedures.15 The success of the adjustment was measured by lessening of leg disparity,

increase of pelvic resistance, postural changes, and finally post adjustment x-ray analysis.

Patient E was adjusted on three consecutive days. After the first adjustment, Patient E’s right leg

changed from one inch deficiency to no noted deficiency.16 The patient began to rub her eyes and seemed

drowsy after the adjustment. The seizure pattern remained quite high that day. On the second day, the preadjustment

leg deficiency was 1/4th inch on the right. After the adjustment, the legs were even and the

pelvic resistance on the right was stronger that the day before. The adjustments were always made between

9:00 am and 1:00 pm. After 1:00 pm on the second day, Patient E had no more seizures during the day.

On the third and final day of care at the Palmer Chiropractic Clinic, the leg deficiency was 1/8th inch.

Again, after the adjustment, the legs were even, and the pelvic resistance was equal bilaterally. Patient E

had no further seizures after 1:00 pm on this day. The parents of Patient E commented that she was

showing more energy and more stability when standing. A postural change was quite evident when Patient

E was prepared for the post x-ray series. When instructed to sit up straight, Patient E’s head and upper

spine were centered over her pelvis. The vertical centering lines on the bucky were used for comparison.

Post x-ray analysis revealed a 91% reduction of the misalignment factors with all structures centered on the

vertical axis.

The parents had been counseled that after an adjustment they could expect exacerbations or

changes in symptomatology on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th day.17 On the 17th day after the adjustment

procedure, the seizures numbered almost 100 (more than ever before). On the 27th day, the seizures abated.

[Figure3] The seizures remained absent for approximately four weeks. The carbamazepine dosage was not

changed during this period.

At the time of this report, the dosage had been reduced by almost one half for the past two weeks.

Patient E has had six or fewer seizures per day. The seizures are completely absent on some days. After

fewer than 60 days of chiropractic care Patient E has been speaking with five or six word sentences. A

current speech evaluation is pending from her therapist and our patient has not been adjusted since July

1989. At re-evaluation, Patient E had no leg deficiency and her condition continues to improve.

DISCUSSION

The authors could find little chiropractic literature pertaining to epilepsy or seizure disorders.

Young reported on three cases which responded to chiropractic care.18 IN the medical articles reviewed on

this subject, little hope, if any, is expressed for the control or cessation of childhood seizures of this type.

Using statements like “woefully”, “poor diagnosis”, “retractability to treatment”, “fraught with uniform

disappointment”, and “grim foreboding”,2 this literature demonstrates the need for research no only in

alternative methods of treatment, but also research into possible causative factors as well.

The remission of Patient E’s epilepsy is a phenomenon whose timing is shortly preceded by the

adjustment procedure. Perhaps not all seizure disorders can be helped with spinal adjustments. However,

chiropractic care would surely be the most conservative treatment in the primary care system. Careful

investigation into each case may reveal possible avenues that may eventually help the patient reduce or in

some cases entirely eliminate the need for drug therapy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to acknowledge George Hess, D.C., Chris L. Hendricks, D.C., Vern Hagen,

D.C., and Dale Strama, D.C. for their part in the care of Patient E and Alana Ferguson, M.S., Susan Larkin,

D.C. and David Guerriero for help in manuscript preparation.

REFERENCES

1. Schroeder SA, Krupp MA, Tierney LM. Current medical diagnosis and treatment. Norwalk,

CT:Appleton & Lang; 1988: 576-580.

2. Snead OC III. Epilepsy in children, a practical approach. Seminars in Neurolgoy 1988; 8(1):24-

34.

3. Allen RB. Nutritional aspects of epilepsy. International Clinical Nutrition Review 1983; 3(3):3-

10.

4. Recent advances in childhood epilepsy. 17th International Epilepsyn Congress. Epilepsia 1988;

29 Supplements 3:S1-S24.

5. Sun JY. An analysis of the causes of epilepsy in 440 cases. Chung Hua Shen Ching Ching Shen

Ko Tsa Chih 1988 June; 21(3):141-4.

6. Crowell GF, Roach ES. Pyridoxine-dependent seizures. Am Fam Physician 1983; 27(3): 183-

187.

7. Harvey AM, Johns RJ, McKusick VA, Owens AH, Ross RS. Principles and practice of medicine.

Norwalk, CT; Appleton-Century-Croft; 1984:1236

8. Andreoli TC, Carpenter CCJ, Plum F, Smith LH Jr. Cecil essentials of medicine. 2d.ed.

Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 1990.

9. Evans OB, Hanson RR, Snead OC. The primary generalized epilepsies of childhood. Semin

Neurol 1988 Spring; 8(1):12-21.

10. Pazzaglia P et al. Drop attacks: an ominous change in the evolution of partial epilepsy.

Neurology 1985; 35: 1725-30.

11. Markland ON. Slow spike-wave activity in EEG and the associated clinical features; often called

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Neurology (Minneap) 1977;27:746-757.

12. Laidlaw J, Richens A, Oxley J (eds). Textbook of epilepsy. 3d ed. New York; Churchill

Livingstone 1988.

13. Gregory RR. The NUCCA course: adjusting the atlas subluxation complex. Monroe, MI:

National Upper Cervical Association Inc. 1988.

14. Dickholtz M. Patient alignment for upper cervical x-rays. Upper Cervical Monograph 1980;

2(8):2-7.

15. Gregory RR. The NUCCA course: adjusting the atlas subluxation complex. Monroe, MI:

National Upper Cervical Association Inc. 1988.

16. Gregory RR. Biomechanics of C1 subluxation production. Upper Cervical Monograph 1988;

4(5).

17. Gregory RR. Post-adjustment healing cycle: nerve and tissue repair. NUCCA Educational

Conference, May 1979, unpublished seminar notes.

18. Young G. Chiropractic success in epileptic conditions. ACA Journal of Chiropractic 1982

MS lesions of the Cervical Cord - Upright health

← Pressure and Shear Stress in MS Lesions

Chronic Ischemia and MS Lesions →

MS Lesions of the Cervical Cord

Posted on October 16, 2010 by uprightdoctor

Image via Wikipedia

                                                                                                     Multiple Sclerosis is technically a neurodegenerative disease of the brain. Classically MS is associated with two or more supratentorial (above the covering over the cerebellum) periventricular hyperintensity signals. The lesions are the white spots on the brain scan on the right. The large shadows in the middle of the brain shaped like a butterfly are the lateral ventricles. The periventricular area surrounds the ventricles. In addition to the brain, however, some MS patients also get lesions in the cervical cord.

Demyelinating type lesions in the cervical cord without lesions in the brain are not considered to be classic signs of MS. Lesions below the cervical cord are, likewise, not considered to be MS. Instead they are given different names.
In this post I will stick to MS lesions in the cervical cord and disregard lesions of the lower cord such as those seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis, Devic’s Disease (neuromyelitis optica) and others. I will also ignore the lesions sometimes associated scoliosis and abnormal curvatures of the spine.
According to Schelling, the lesions seen in the cervical cord in MS are due to stretch and shear stress. Many types of trauma, such as whiplash in the picture on the left, cause hyperflexion and hyperextension of the spine. The strain can occur in a front to back motion or from side to side. At the same time, whiplash type traumas also strain the spinal cord inside the spinal canal. 
 The spinal cord, like the brain has three protective coats called meninges. The outer coat is called the dura mater. The middle coat is called the subarachnoid mater and the inner coat is called the pia mater. Except for the attachment of the tail end of the cord, called the filum terminale, to the tail bone, called the coccyx, the spinal cord moves freely, unattached inside the spinal canal.


The three coats are held together by denticulate ligaments that attach the inner pia mater to the outer dura mater at the nerve roots.  Click on the image on the right for a closer look. The subarchnoid space lies between the subarchnoid mater and the pia mater and contains a significant volume of cerebrospinal fluid, called CSF. There is also lymph like fluid that serves as a lubricant between the outer coat of the dura mater and the middle coat of the subarachnoid mater. This allows the inner contents of the cord to move somewhat independently to a limited degree.
According to Schelling, mechanical strains of the spine can take the cord to extreme limits of stretch. It can also cause shear stress within the cord between the pia mater on the inside and the dura mater on the outside. The stress points occur at the attachment of the denticulate ligament. Furthermore, violent back jets of CSF in the subarachnoid space amplify the strain like a boat moored to a dock hit by hurricane force waves. The waves amplify the strain and rip the ropes and boats from their moorings. Similarly, violent waves of CSF flowing through the subarachnoid space amplify the strain acting on the denticulate ligaments. When they reach a critical threshold, engineer’s call the yeild point, the denticulate connective tissue attachments of the pia mater to the dura mater will tear. The strained tissues of the pia mater further damage the meylinated nerve tracts they cover. Click on the image above to get a closer look. This is a cross section of the cord and shows the inside. The H shape in the middle of the cord is the grey matter. The myelinated white fiber tracts surround it. The blue area is the subarachnoid space which contains CSF.

The lesions seen in the cervical cord are micro tears in the meninges and nearby myelinated nerve pathways . The tears cause scars  to form called sclerotic plaques.  Because they occur on the outside along the flanks of the cord, the tears tend to effect the outside structures of the cord.
The outside of the cord (see picture to left)contains the long myelinated high speed primary nerve pathways of the central nervous system. Primary nerves go from the brain to particular destination levels in the cord. The long white tracts on the outside of the cord contain both sensory nerves for detecting sensations related to the environment, muscle tone and balance, and motor nerves for running the muscles. Tears in the area of the denticulate ligaments thus affect nearby myelinated nerves in the cord resulting in muscle weakness and warped sensations called paresthesias.
In brief, according to Schelling, one of the likely causes of the lesions of multiple sclerosis seen in the brain are due to violent venous back jets associated with trauma.  The lesions seen in the cervical cord are due to severe overstretching and shear stresses within the cord itself magnified by hydraulic stress from CSF waves. There is still more to the story, however, that needs further exploration and explanation.  That’s where my theory may help to fill in some of the missing pieces to the puzzle.
My theory is that craniocervical syndromes can cause chronic edema (swelling), ischemia (decreased blood flow) and NPH (normal pressure hydrocephalus) conditions in the brain. Similar events can occur in the cord due to abnormal conditions of the spine. These chronic conditions can, in turn initiate neurodegenerative processes such as the glutamate cascade, which follows strokes.
In my next post I will discuss the posterior blood supply routes to the brain and circulation to the cord. The veins are not the only problem in MS. The arteries are a big part of the problem as well. In addition to MS, I suspect that certain cases of sclerosis of the long myelin tracts of the lower cord, such as ALS and PLS are probably due more to chronic ischemia. This is probably why lesions sometimes also show up in cases of abnormal curvatures of the spine such as scoliosis and kyphosis. Oxidative stress and chronic ischemia are chief suspects in the cause of demyelination and the shape of the spine, and thus the spinal canal, affect arterial and venous blood flow in the cord.
For additional information on this and related topics visit my website at http://www.upright-health.com.

CCSVI and brain pressure - Dr Flanagan

CCSVI and Brain Pressure

CCSVI and CSF

Cranial hydrodynamics is a term used by radiologists to describe fluid mechanics in the brain, which includes blood and cerebrospinal fluid called CSF. Intracranial compliance is term used to describe pressure changes in the brain inside the skull caused by changes is CSF pressure as it pulsates on its course through the brain being driven by waves arising from the heart and arterial pulse waves along with respiratory waves, which amplify them. Techically they are called cardiorespiratory or B waves. Some scientists also call them volume waves in the brain.
In brief, the brain pulsates just like the beat of the heart. Things that disturb intracranial compliance and the rhyhmical movement of fluids can have profound affects on the health of the brain because it lies within a somewhat restricted closed container. The other two elements within the container are blood and cerebrospinal fluid mentioned above. An increase in the volume of any one element within the cranial vault must result in a decrease of one or both of the other elements. Two of the elements, blood and CSF are similar to water and therefore not very compressible. The brain, on the other hand is made of billions of nerves and over fifty percent fat, so it is much more compressible than blood or CSF.
CSF produced in the chambers of the brain called ventricles. A dense network of blood vessels surround the ventricles. CSF is made from blood that is drawn from the network of blood vessels through an extra-fine fine filter, called the blood brain barrier. The blood is drawn by a concentration created by salt, as well as a pressure gradient created by upright posture.
CSF is used to support the brain, which floats inside the skull as well as for cushioning and protection. Moreover, the brain has no lymph system. Instead, waste products are removed through the CSF system, which empties into the main vein at the top of the head called the superior sagittal sinus.
CSF production, flow and drainage from the brain is inexorably linked to venous drainage from the brain. CSF pressure in the ventricles is normally slightly higher than venous pressure so that it’s flow is toward the veins.
Upright posture creates a slightly negative pressure in the superior sagittal sinus, the main vein at the top of the head. This draws venous blood and CSF toward it. From here blood flows downhill along a steep slope like a waterfall to the base of the skull. In the bottom of the skull drain into either the jugular or vertebral vein routes.
The CSF pressure gradiant is very small so that venous drainage issues, such as back pressure in the veins in the basement of the skull, can affect intracranial compliance. It can also affect cranial hydrodynamics resulting in either too much CSF in the brain, called normal pressure hydrocephalus in adults or too little. Moreover, a decrease in the volume of CSF decreases brain support and raises the risk of pressure conus and Chiari like conditions. I cover cranial hydrodynamics thoroughly in my book, as well as Chiari and pressure conus conditions.

Share this:

• Reddit
• Email
• StumbleUpon
• Twitter4

Like this:

Like Loading...

Whiplash injuries and CCSVI - Dr. Flanagan/Uprightdoctor

Whiplash Injuries and CCSVI

Upper Cervical Spine

In engineering terms, stress from any type of force always strains the structures and materials they act on. Any structure or material can be strained technically speaking. All strains by definition result in deformation of their respective structures and materials. The difference is that elastic strains return back to normal while plastic strains do not. In engineering the crossover point between elastic and plastic strains is the yield point. Strains are categorized as large and small strains, which can be further broken down into infintissimal and micro type strains. Regardless of size, even small strains can can have a large impact on sturctures like cracks in a foundation fortelling of catastrophic failure.
Jumping from a steel bridge while attached to a bungee cord causes large elastic strains and deformation in the bungee cord. At the same time it causes infintissimally small elastic strains in the bridge and small but larger, hopefully elastic strains in the jumper’s body. On the other hand, whiplash and other suddden jerky or even slow sustained types of injuries to the spine can cause chronic micro plastic types of strains.
Chiropractors collectively catergorize all mechanical strains of the spine as subluxations. Technically speaking, subluxations are micro mechanical plastic strains of the spine that cause dis-ease in physiology, which is function. Some chiropractors argue that subluxations must include interference to communication in the nervous system, and that the only place where interference can occur is in the upper cervical spine. It is an age old arguement in chiropractic.
All strains of the spine, however, alter physiology. Furthermore, the spine is a structure, not a bunch of isolated segments so that one faulty segment can impact the function of the whole structure. Strains of the upper spine can affect the lower spine just as strains of the lower spine can affect upper areas. A spine that lists due to scoliosis from leg length discrepancy affecting its base can affect the upper cervical spine. Likewise a ten pound head that lists to one side can affect segments much further below, including the low back and legs. Furthermore, abnormal curvatures of the spine have been shown to affect the contents of the spinal canal, especially the vertebal veins, as they get compressed up against the inside curve of the canal, which can result in venous congestion and sluggish blood flow in the area. Lastly, deformation of the cartilage of the spine, called discs, can compress nerve roots directly, while other types of spinal strains deform soft tissues tunnels such as thoracic outlets in the shoulder girdle and the femoral and sciatic foramen in the pelvis.
The upper cervical spine, however, is without question one of the most critical areas of the spine, subject to a great deal of wear and tear stress that starts with birth and sometimes results in chronic strains called subluxations. The differece between upper cervcial strains and those that occur further down in the spine is that upper cervical subluxations, that is strains, affect the health of the brain and cord.
Among other things, upper cervical subluxations are associated with deformation, albeit small, of hard and soft tissue tunnels that contain critical circulatory routes for blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow, including venous drainage routes used to drain the basement of the brain during upright posture. Thus, UC subluxations can result in CCSVI. But they also do much more. The fact of the matter is, UC subluxations don’t simply pinch nerves, as chiropractors like to say, nor do they simply interfere with communication between the brain and the body. In contrast to a fracture of the UC spine that can kill a person instantly, upper cervical subluxations slowly strangle the life out of the brain and cord.

Share this:

• Reddit
• Email
• StumbleUpon
• Twitter5

Like this:

Like Loading...

Dr. Flanagan - Is there anything this man doesn't know about the engineering and function of the human body, I think not, it's astounding what he knows

About Dr. Flanagan

It was in 1982 that I met Dr. Harry Shapiro who was the former curator for the Department of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and a leading expert on the design of the human skull, artificial skull deformation and trepination.
It was this relationship that put me on a course that I would never had envisioned. In 1978 I graduated with high honours from Sherman College of Chiropractic with particular focus on specific corrective care of the upper cervical spine, which is the most critical and important area of the spine. Following graduation I spent several years studying Applied Kinesiology and Sacrooccipital Technique, which includes specific pelvic analysis and corrective care procedures for the foundation of the spine, as well as craniopathy which is described below.
The pelvis contains the tail end attachment of the cord. Except for the tail, the brain and cord float within the cranial vault and spinal canal. The human pelvis is complex when it comes to health problems and requires specific analysis and correction. In my opinion, it is just as important as specific upper cervical care. Craniopathy, on the other hand, is the study of the musculoskeletal system of the skull, as well as cerebrospinal fluid flow, called CSF, in the brain and cord.
It was because of my interest in craniopathy that I met Dr. Harry Shapiro through a friend. The doctor became a patient and we had many long conversations regarding the design of the sutures and base of the skull, as well as craniopathy and chiropractic. While Dr. Shapiro was intriqued by basic chiropractic and craniopathic theories, certain craniopathic concepts clearly conflicted with his extensive forensic findings. In particular, he disagreed with issues regarding deformation of the base of the skull and the state of its special joints called sutures. Consequently, he insisted that I use the museum to do my own research.
When I got there he handed me a well used canvas sack with a set of old calipers strapped to the inside. Honestly, I had no idea about how to use them. He then gave me an old monogram he had published in 1928 called, “A Correction for Artificial Deformation of Skulls.” That’s how my chance investigation into the sutures and the design of the base of the human skull got started. It was supposed to be finished in just a few days. Instead, it turned into decades.
I spent several years examining hundreds of normal, pathological and artificially deformed human skulls. It was the artificially deformed skulls from former indigenous people of Peru and Bolivia, however, that started me looking into hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus, in turn, led to normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and Alzheimer’s, which led to Parkinson’s and later mutliple sclerosis. Early on I recognized the close similarity between narrow angle glaucoma and NPH. Both are related to low pressure drainage issues due to similar causes. The difference is that glaucoma puts pressure on and damages the optic nerve causing blindness. NPH, on the other hand, puts pressure on the brain and causes dementia.
In addition to human skulls, I studied some primate skulls along with bats, whales and giraffes. I studied the later three because of the extreme circulatory challenges to the brain during head inversion and deep dives, which are similar to inversion and Valsalva maneuvers in humans and known to increase intracranial pressure. I was looking for answers and compensatory mechanisms these animals use to control intracranial pressure, and for possible clues as to how humans contend with challenges caused by upright posture. I found plenty of forensic evidence.
I wrote my first paper on the potential role of the spine in venous drainage issues and neurodegenerative diseases in 1987. A Google search for “stenosis Alzheimer’s” will produce an article I wrote for Dynamic Chiropractic in 1990 calling for research into the potential role of venous drainage isssues in the brain and Alzhiemer’s disease. I subsequently published many other papers on similar subjects, including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. After three years of additional study, in 1990 I became certified in chiropractic neurology. In additon to my professional publications, I recently published a book called THE DOWNSIDE OF UPRIGHT POSTURE – THE ANATOMICAL CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER’S, PARKINSON’S AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, based on more than twenty years of research.
The book is written as a story to make it easier to digest and remember some important and difficult concepts. It is packed with relevant information. It was written for lay people, as well as physicians and scientists to stimulate further research. It was also written for anyone interested in physical anthropology, upright posture and the human brain. You can learn more about the book by visiting my website at uprightdoc.com. No one has all the answers to the mystery but we have some new and important pieces to the puzzle that may bring us closer to solving it. I will be discussing topics from the book on this blog. It is an important subject that needs further investigation.

Share this:

• Reddit
• Email
• StumbleUpon
• Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...